Norris reveals Verstappen desire in McLaren team orders debate

Lando Norris has made it clear he wants to beat Max Verstappen and win the Formula 1 title this season on merit rather than with the help of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.

Team principal Andrea Stella has clarified that Piastri will aid Norris over the remaining eight grands prix, and end the team’s 16-year wait – since Lewis Hamilton in 2008 – for a drivers’ championship.

Norris has stated he is “thankful” the ‘papaya rules’ have now been clarified going forward. As to what could unfold between the duo, the Briton said: “He’s still fighting for his own racing, still going at it, doing his stuff.

“It could be that there’s no time this year he needs to help me. It’s more that I’ve got Oscar’s help when needs be, but he’s still going out with the intent in every session of fighting for himself and doing his job.

“If he goes out, is better than me, out-qualifies me and wins the race, it’s because he’s done a better job.”

Norris suggested that Piastri’s assistance would likely arise in relation to the “lower positions”, adding: “If he’s fought for a win, and he’s deserving of a win, he deserves to win.”

Put to Norris that if the team was running one-two in a race, with Piastri ahead, would he expect the Australian to let him through in that situation, he replied: “No, probably not.”

Norris – ‘I’m sure it will hurt’

Norris goes into this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix 62 points adrift of Verstappen, with McLaren in the ascendancy against a Red Bull team struggling to find a cure for the lack of balance in its RB20.

Reiterating his stance that if he misses the championship by a few points due to situations that have previously arisen on track, then so be it, he said: “I’m sure it will hurt.

“I’m also here to race and if a driver is doing better than me and performing, he’s just doing a better job.

“I wouldn’t want to take that away from someone, and I also don’t want to be given a championship.

“Yes, it would be great to have a championship and short term, you’d feel amazing, but I don’t think I’d be proud of that in the long run, and that’s not something I want. That’s not how I want to win a championship.

“I want to win it by fighting against Max, by beating Max, beating my competitors, or proving that I’m the best.”